Policy Development in the Nigerian Civil Service: Learning to Leading

Executive Summary

For years, Nigeria’s governance challenges have been blamed on poor policy implementation. Yet, emerging evidence suggests the real fault line lies earlier, at the point of policy formulation. A recent baseline assessment of directorate-level civil servants uncovered systemic weaknesses that compromise policy effectiveness long before execution begins. These include limited technical capacity, unreliable data, political interference, and weak stakeholder engagement. These are issues that collectively erode the quality of public policy and, by extension, governance outcomes. To confront these challenges, the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, in partnership with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and with support from the Oil Producers Trade Section, convened a three-day intensive workshop on policy writing and review. The programme went beyond theory, immersing participants in nine thematic modules that covered the entire policy lifecycle, from data-driven drafting and stakeholder communication to adaptive governance and reform institutionalisation. By the end of the workshop, participants reported a marked shift in their confidence and competence, moving from uncertainty to a clear sense of mastery in shaping and reviewing policies.

This experience underscores a critical truth: targeted, cadre-sensitive training can transform the capacity of the public sector to deliver better policies. But training alone is not enough. To sustain these gains, Nigeria must invest in deeper analytical tools, embed structured policy processes, and institutionalise reforms that outlast political cycles. Only then can we move from episodic interventions to systemic change, and from policy failure to policy impact.